The Destructive Power of Jealousy

Jealousy is a reaction to something that seems unfair. We envy the position of another, and because we cannot change anything, we get angry. If we stay angry, we will become hostile, surprising even ourselves with what we can do. When a person is envious, it is as if they have tunnel vision. They cannot see what they have, but only what the other has; they obsess about it.

This was the battle that King Saul fought when it came to David. Everything about David made him jealous. After David killed Goliath, the women sang this song: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” (1 Sam 18:7).

It was a song linking Saul and David together in this victory. Still, jealousy would not allow Saul to enjoy the win even though he participated in the victory over the enemy. He could have rejoiced in the victory and shared the success, but he couldn’t. Jealousy always leads to anger, as it did for Saul. He was furious; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” (1 Sam 18:8).

Saul became so angry that he hurled a spear at David while he was playing the lyre. Jealousy leads to anger, and anger leads to hostility. Goliath never had the chance to throw his spear at David, but Saul did. It will only worsen because Saul refuses to deal with the root of the problem.

Solomon wrote, “Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? (Proverbs 27:4). Jealousy is the gasoline that fuels anger and will not let the fire die out. Jealousy harms our health, “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones” (Prov 14:30).

Jealousy and anger are strong emotions that hijack our brains and make us say and do things we would never think of doing in our everyday minds. When we realize that we feel jealousy, it is time to do the hard work of getting rid of it. First, pray and ask God to change your heart. Second, approach the person with whom you are jealous and show kindness. Jealously wants to separate us, but kindness brings us together. Nevertheless, overcoming jealousy and anger is hard work, and we must be willing to persevere until we have rid ourselves of the poison of jealousy.